School Spirits (2023 TV series) explained
| Creator: | Megan Trinrud & Nate Trinrud |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 8 |
| Cinematography: | Craig Dean Devine |
| Editor: | Robert Lattanzio |
| Runtime: | 44–52 minutes |
| Company: | Awesomeness |
| Network: | Paramount+ |
School Spirits is an American supernatural teen drama television series created by Megan Trinrud and Nate Trinrud that premiered on Paramount+ on March 9, 2023. The series, adapted from the forthcoming graphic novel by the Trinruds and Maria Nguyen, stars Peyton List, Kristian Ventura, Milo Manheim, and Spencer Macpherson. In June 2023, the series was renewed for a second season.[1]
Plot
Set in the fictional town of Split River, Wisconsin, the show follows Maddie, a teen girl stuck in the afterlife investigating her own mysterious disappearance; she goes on a crime-solving journey as she adjusts to high school in the afterlife, but the closer she gets to the truth, the more secrets and lies she discovers.
Cast
Main
- Peyton List as Maddie Nears, a teenager who suddenly finds herself among the spirits that inhabit Split River High School. Maddie cannot remember what happened to her and spends the first season investigating her possible murder. Like all the spirits at the high school, she cannot leave the school grounds.[2]
- Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy, Maddie's best friend in high school and the only living person who can now see and talk with her
- Milo Manheim as Wally Clark, a teenage spirit who died during a high school football game. He becomes romantically interested in Maddie.
- Spencer MacPherson as Xavier Baxter, Maddie's boyfriend in the living world. Maddie learns that he was cheating on her with cheerleader Claire Zomer.
- Kiara Pichardo as Nicole Herrera, a close friend of Maddie and Simon
- Sarah Yarkin as Rhonda, a cynical teenage spirit who was murdered by her guidance counselor[3]
- Nick Pugliese as Charley, a teenage spirit who becomes Maddie's first friend in the afterlife. Charley, who was allergic to nuts, died when he left his EpiPen at home and ate fries cooked in peanut oil at school. Before his death, Charley was in a relationship with Emilio Figueroa, who is now a teacher at the school.
- Rainbow Wedell as Claire Zomer, the school's head cheerleader, Xavier's secret girlfriend, and Maddie's former childhood friend
Recurring
- Josh Zuckerman as Mr. Martin, a spirit at Split River High School who leads an "afterlife support group." He was a science teacher before dying in a fire in his classroom lab. He appears to be interested to helping the teenage spirits "cross over".
- Maria Dizzia as Sandra Nears, Maddie's alcoholic mother
- RaeAnne Boon as Dawn, a carefree teenage spirit who died by accidental electrocution
- Patrick Gilmore as Mr. Anderson, the high school's literature teacher who harbors a secret
- Ian Tracey as Sheriff Baxter, Xavier's father who is investigating Maddie's disappearance while running for re-election as Split River's sheriff
Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 83% approval rating with an average rating of 7.3/10, based on 18 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "School Spirits leaves some of its promising potential untapped, but Peyton List's splendid starring performance makes this paranormal mystery a solid watch for anyone who remembers the phantom pain of growing up."[4]
Daniel D'Addario of Variety wrote, "Without losing sight of the sorrow of Maddie's story, School Spirits manages to be surprisingly sparky and fun—proof positive that there are new stories to tell about the institution no one would ever want to be stuck in for their entire afterlife."[5] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter said, "Sometimes the familiar trappings of the high-school genre can open the door for a show to do wilder and more inventive things than more allegedly mature shows. School Spirits, unfortunately, takes no such liberties."[6]
Notes and References
- Web site: School Spirits Renewed For Season 2. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. June 20, 2023. June 20, 2023.
- Web site: Cusson . Kate . 2023-08-22 . School Spirits Cast and Character Guide . 2024-11-20 . MovieWeb . en.
- Web site: Johnson . Erin . 2023-12-06 . How Everyone Died In School Spirits . 2024-11-20 . ScreenRant . en.
- school_spirits_2023. School Spirits . tv. 1. March 15, 2023. y.
- Web site: D'Addario . Daniel . March 9, 2023 . 'School Spirits' Is a Charming Teenage Ghost Story: TV Review . March 14, 2023 . Variety . en-US.
- Web site: Fienberg . Daniel . March 8, 2023 . 'School Spirits' Review: Bland Paramount+ YA Drama May Give You Ghost Fatigue . March 14, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
